giant Tangier fennel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• giant Tangier fennel
• Tangier Fennel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Agasulis tingitana
• Ferula sancta
• Ferula bolivari

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, falling into the family Apiaceae. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Ferula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions in Southwestern Europe and Northern Africa. In the European continent, its presence is documented in both Portugal and Spain. Moving across the Mediterranean, the species is also well-established within Northern Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Algeria and Libya. Finally, its geographical range extends to include the country of Morocco.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ferula tingitana is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate, which helps the species survive unfavorable environmental conditions. This life form, categorized under the hemicryptophyte group, ensures that the plant can effectively regenerate its aerial structures annually from its subterranean components.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ferula tingitana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a structure that is entirely non-woodiness in its development. As a terrestrial organism, it does not occupy aquatic or semiaquatic habitats, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is a self-supporting species, lacking any climber or liana characteristics, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite, requiring no host for its survival.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ferula tingitana is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly uniform physical profile. Based on botanical data, the seed mass is remarkably consistent, with a recorded mean, maximum, and minimum value all strictly fixed at 0.01405 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, where each seed produced by the plant maintains a precise weight of 0.01405 g, ensuring a uniform distribution of resources for potential offspring.

Seed mass mean:

0.01405 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ferula tingitana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ferula tingitana has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Acetyltingitanol, Germacrene D, phenylpropanoid.

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene

1. Protoplasma

Acetyltingitanol

1. Journal of natural products

Germacrene D

1. Protoplasma

phenylpropanoid

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Ferula tingitana has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticholinesterase, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Genotoxic.

Anticholinesterase

1. Protoplasma

Antidiabetic

1. Protoplasma

Antimicrobial

1. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Protoplasma

Genotoxic

1. Protoplasma

Conditions

Ferula tingitana has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include E. coli, anticholinesterase, antidiabetic, antioxidant.

E. coli

1. Protoplasma

Anticholinesterase

1. Protoplasma

Antidiabetic

1. Protoplasma

Antioxidant

1. Protoplasma

Preparations

Ferula tingitana has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include petroleum ether extract of the roots.

Petroleum ether extract of the roots

1. Journal of natural products